Let the Game Begin

Supporters might suggest it was his untroubled conscience that allowed Hutomo Mandala Putra, more familiarly known as Tommy Suharto, to snore through the storming of a rented luxury house by 25 armed police officers. Cynics, on the other hand, might argue that Indonesia’s most famous fugitive was taking a mid-afternoon nap in the two-story home in suburban south Jakarta, confident that he faced little chance of serving anything but a nominal jail sentence. Whatever the source of his serenity, the youngest son of former Indonesian President Suharto was discovered Nov. 28 seemingly asleep, lounging in a T shirt and shorts.

More optimistic Indonesians are calling Tom-my’s capture a sign of President Megawati Sukarnoputri’s commitment to rooting out cronyism and corruption. But it is a devastating comment on the state of the country’s judicial system that the arrest of the 39-year-old Suharto scion after a year of mysteriously faulty wiretaps and failed raids on suspected hideouts has been greeted mainly with cynicism in the capital. Says human rights lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis: “So many elements of the old order will be controlling the process.”

Even the dramatic nature of the arrest has raised questions. Although their quarry was unguarded, the police put on a headline-grabbing show. “I pointed my gun at him,” says Second Inspector Danang Dwikartiko, who along with the other arresting officers was immediately promoted by Megawati for nabbing Tommy. “I thought he might try to resist. But when he woke up, he gave himself up without a fight.” Perhaps not a surprising reaction from the multimillionaire businessman who received a warm hug from Jakarta’s chief of police when he was brought in to police headquarters. “His capture was orchestrated,” concludes Neta Pane, co-chairman of Indonesia Police Watch. “I think the police have known all along where he was and were only waiting for the right moment to bring him in.”

The charges against Tommy are daunting. Police say they have solid evidence linking him to the murder of the Supreme Court judge who handed down the 18-month jail sentence for his alleged role in an $11 million real estate scam that sent him into hiding in the first place. They also say he is to be charged with responsibility for a series of bombings that rocked the capital in the past year, illegal possession of weapons and other violations. But even officials responsible for prosecuting the former chief of the sprawling Humpuss conglomerate concede he may be able to finagle his way out of trouble. “We have strong proof and testimony from two witnesses implicating Tommy in the judge’s death,” says south Jakarta District Attorney Antasari Azhar, who is in charge of the case. “The problem will lie in how the case is prepared and the integrity of the judges.”

The country’s track record is not encouraging. With two exceptions, no high-profile corruption case against Suharto-era figures has been successfully prosecuted. “The proof in the hands of the police tends to weaken once the suspect has been caught,” says Amir Syamsuddin, a legal adviser to Tommy’s eldest sister, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, or “Tutut,” the onetime head of a powerful corporation who has also faced corruption charges. “Once he’s caught, then the game begins.”

The game will undoubtedly most ardently be played by protgs of the former Suharto regime who still hold key judicial, military and legislative positions. “Court cases here are basically an auction where the highest bidder wins,” says Hans Vriens, who heads the Jakarta office for the Washington-based consulting group Apco. “In this case, of course, there will be immense political pressure on the judges as well.”

When she took office four months ago, President Megawati vowed that eradicating corruption would be a key aim of her government. Failure to follow through could further hurt the country’s credibility with foreign investors, who are essential for economic survival. Given her somnolent record to date, there are fears that Megawati will treat this case the same way Tommy dealt with his arrest: keeping her eyes shut and pretending to be asleep.